Monday 11 April 2011

Improving slowly ......

                Well Saturday saw dad on oxygen, on intravenous antibiotics and with a fan trying to cool him down. He looked a little better but still felt really ill. We went to see him again yesterday and what a huge difference dad was sat up in bed no oxygen and he looked a far better colour than he has for ages. He is still on the antibiotics but he was talking and even cracking a few jokes ( this he hasn't done in weeks). Lets hope this signals the start of the long recovery period.
                I got the lawns cut and some of the lawn edging done (more still to do), got the majority of the washing caught up with unfortunately our very (in)considerate neighbour decided to light a very smokey barbecue even though he could see the washing out for both me and his other neighbour. So both of us had to rush to get damp washing in before they stank of smoke. So that will need finishing off today then the mountain of ironing to do. Hope to get more of the garden sorted today as well before visiting dad again tonight (fingers crossed for even more improvement) it would be nice to get him back home but only when he is fit enough. Well must get washing dry before the rain comes in later this morning.
                                        
                                                        Tracy x

Friday 8 April 2011

Can't take much more.....

         Went to visit dad tonight. The hospital have given him celery soup to eat then sent him to a different ward for the weekend and after twenty minutes of being there (and us arriving for visiting) he was being sick. He has not swallowed food of any sort for over 6 weeks (fed through peg) because he struggles to swallow. He should be supervised if he tries to eat or drink as there is a risk of food/drink going to his lungs. So they feed him, he's sick and now he has liquid in his right lung (pulmonary aspiration). He is on intravenous antibiotics and if he doesn't respond quickly he will have a 50/50 chance of surviving. So much for saying he was well enough to be sent home!!!  All we can do is wait and hope for better news tomorrow.

                                        Tracy  x
    
    

Lack of communication ......

        This was between the hospital and our local district nurse. So instead of dad going into the hospice for respite care until back on his feet he was discharged from the hospital and sent home (Wednesday afternoon). Mum is still struggling to walk and was left with dad to look after, put his medicines through the peg (tube in his stomach), and connect his feed up with the district nurse coming once a day in the morning to do the early meds and a carer to help dress him. Well mum was up most of the night with dad coughing and nearly chocking (lots of sputum due to radiotherapy). Yesterday morning the district nurse came did dads meds and helped him to his chair as dad felt faint and unstable walking. District nurse then came back at lunch to do his meds again and brought a doctor to check on dad. The doctor said he had been discharged to soon and sent for an ambulance to re-admit him into hospital. So last night we were at a&e until 10:00 pm when they admitted dad onto a ward. So now we're back to square one trying to get him respite care.
      
        On the up side of things I have Rosie again for the day, her smile always cheers me up no matter how tired or down hearted I feel. So today will be spent catching up on chores, playing games with Rosie and visiting again. Hopefully I will get some more seed planting and tidying the garden done over the weekend (fingers crossed) and visiting dad.

                                             Tracy  x